Everyone has their favorite ice cream place. Usually it’s local, and maybe because it’s associated with sweetness and warm summer evenings, people tend to be fiercely loyal.
That’s why we are not going to rate ice cream purveyors in Bucks County (ha!), or even attempt to be comprehensive in our list. But for those of you interested in wandering the county, comparing vanillas, chocolates and peanut butter-chocolate-graham-whatever swirls, here’s a short list, starting in Upper Bucks and moving south. We did, however, skip franchise places, like Rita’s and Dairy Queen, as good as they might sometimes be.
Thanks to our guest blogger, Rich Baringer, for his research in Upper Bucks, and to various other friends who have recommended their favorite places.
We hope to update this list as we get a chance to visit them, and add more information, so please let us know your favorite place, and why you love it. Send us an email, or drop a comment below.
Rosemarie’s Italian Ice (Quakertown), 304 W. Broad Street, 215.536-3220 “A million flavors” of ice cream, plus water ice and gelato.
Grida’s (Richlandtown), 36 N. Main St, 215.536-2691 Good old-fashioned walk-up food stand. Great place to hang with friends or pick up to take home. Locally owned for over forty years, with a big menu in addition to ice cream. Soft-serve dipped in chocolate is a favorite.
Sundae School (Hilltown), 401 W. Schoolhouse Rd., 215.723-4123Housed in the old Pennville Schoolhouse – they even have the names and pictures of those who attended school there. Lots of Hershey’s ice cream flavors as well as smoothies, sundaes, Italian ice, candy, ice cream cakes, and chocolate covered bananas. Very friendly staff with an old-fashioned feel inside and outside seating for hanging out. See our Tidbits post on the Sundae School here.
Owow Cow Creamery (Ottsville), at the intersection of Routes 563 & 412, near Rt. 611, 610.847.7070All natural, organic, small batch, handcrafted ice cream, “Italian” style (think rich and dense) made on-site sourcing ingredients from local farms. Outside seating. Just imagine – you can eat healthy, great ice cream and support local farmers.
Chubby’s Dairy Barn (Plumsteadville), right behind the Plumsteadville Inn, near the intersection of Route 611 and Stump Road, 215.766.7554 Very family- and community-oriented (hosting Cruise nights, local kids sports teams, movie viewings, ice cream cookie nights), serving Nelson’s ice cream (from Royersford). Extremely friendly staff – even have treats for dogs who visit. Take home some of their new Chubby’s Reserve ice cream too, including flavors like Dulce de Leche, Pistachio and the Minister of Defense (white chocolate ice cream, white chocolate chips and white chocolate crunch – named after Reggie White!)
Del Val Creamery @ The Market by Shady Brook Farm at Delaware Valley College (Doylestown), 2100 Lower State Road Locally made by Uncle Dave’s ice cream in Yardley (who also sells at Shady Brook Farm Market). Made from 100 percent super premium Jersey cow milk, from independently owned Pennsylvania dairy farms and using Shady Brook produce – like raspberries, strawberries and peaches – in the ice cream whenever possible. See our story on the Del Val Market.
Pigadilly’s (Lahaska) Peddler’s Village, Shop #53, 215.794.2122Sixteen hard and nine soft-serve flavors, gelato, baked goods and other light food. Great Peanut Butter Swirl.
Dilly’s Corner (Center Bridge), on River Road (Route 32), north of New Hope, right at the Center Bridge-Stockton bridge, 215.862.5333 Another local favorite that has been there for years. Ice cream, milkshakes and a grill menu. See our review.
Birchwood Farms (Upper Makefield/ Newtown), 428 Brownsburg Road, 215.598.8633 Super premium organic ice cream available in fourteen “Patriotic Flavors” made from 100% whole, nutritious, organic raw Jersey milk, sold in quarts from their store.
Sweet Pea Creams & Confections (Newtown), 254 N. Sycamore St. (Goodnoe’s Corner), 215.968.0466 Own-make ice cream in 22 flavors, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cakes and pies, and homemade candies.
Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar (Newtown) 4 South Sycamore Street, 215.968.3544 The tradition continues. Goodnoe’s was the place to go for ice cream for 40 years, back when Newtown was surrounded by farms. Now the next generation is making ice cream again, using the family recipes. The recently opened store sells their homemade hand-dipped ice cream in 12 flavors, offers 15 kinds of sundaes, and milkshakes.
Tanner Brothers Dairy (Ivyland/Richboro), 1070 Hatboro Road, 215-357-1716 Tanner’s had been in business for over 100 years as a working dairy farm so you know the ice cream is fresh. Their produce selection and prices are great too, year-round.
Uncle Dave’s (Yardley) at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, 215-968-1670 Locally made from 100 percent super premium Jersey cow milk, from independently owned Pennsylvania dairy farms and using Shady Brook produce – like raspberries, strawberries and peaches – in the ice cream whenever possible.
Yardley Ice House (Yardley boro), 77 S. Main St., 215.321.9788 Family-owned and run. Gourmet Italian Water Ice (in 22 flavors), gelati, soft serve custard, milk shakes and malts, ice cream sundaes, blend-ins and ice cream floats.
Dairy Delite (Levittown), 972 Woodbourne Rd, 215.547.1636 This hugely popular ice cream place has several locations in Lower Bucks. From what we’ve heard, portions are big and the lines are long. Thanks to Donnie at The Pineville for this tip. Gotta check it out.
And on the other side of the river…
It’s Nutts (Titusville), 1381 River Road, 609.737.0505 Convenient for Bucks County folks in Upper Makefield and Washington Crossing area. Good ice cream, interesting flavors, outside seating right off of River Road/Route 29.
Updated on May 26, 2010
Please let us know of any other ice cream places you feel MUST be included!
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Greenwood Dairy. There’s a name from the past! I vaguely remember the name, but not any images. Guess I was too young! Thanks for the comment.
Sorry, Cuz’ — but 40 years ago ‘THE’ place for ice cream was Greenwood Dairy on Route 1. Every visit would find a selection of available ice cream flavors that differed from your last visit. Unsure what to get (what kid does)? Greenwood Dairy offered tastings long before anyone knew what a tasting was! And though Greenwood Dairy made an outrageous banana split sundae, my memories are all about their ice cream cones! For 25-cents, you were presented with a softball-size mound of ice cream that was balanced precipitously atop your cone of choice. There was an art to eating a Greenwood Dairy cone, too — and if you didn’t learn how at an early age, you’d be wearing (vs. eating) the ice cream.
ALSO, there’s a soft-serve ice cream drive-in (on Rte 13?) near the Levittown rail station (across from where the Levittown Shopping Center was located). When living in Levittown (40+ yrs ago), this drive-in used to sell soft-serve orange sherbert . . . OMG, a mixed cone w/ their chocolate soft-serve was to die for! I was in Levittown a few years ago, and the store that day was serving soft-serve raspberry sherbert. Same OMG response! Better yet, buy a quart each of their sherbert & ice cream and ‘kvell’ in the privacy of your own home!!!
Gotta go . . .
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Yes, you’re right! Thanks. I just corrected it.
Do you mean 563 & 412 for Owow Creamery as opposed to 536 and 412?
Pigadilly’s in Peddlers Village makes AWESOME gelato fresh everyday.
Great! Glad it was helpful. Let us know what you thought of the ice cream you ate, as well as anything else. Enjoy Bucks County!
Thanks for this post. It was consulted before yesterday’s day trip to Bucks County. My party stopped at Tanner Brothers. We heard very good things about OWoW Cow, and sampled flavors at Tabora Farms on Upper Stump Road.
Thanks for this post. It was consulted before yesterday’s day trip to Bucks County. My party stopped at Tanner Brothers. We heard very good things about OWoW Cow, and sampled flavors at Tabora Farms on Upper Stump Road.